Lubricating system for rotary engines.



v P. M. FREER.

' LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR ROTARY ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I4. 1912. RENEWED APR. 24. 1918.

1,286,985. Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET rmdp P. M FREER. LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR ROTARY ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED DEC- 14. 1912. RENEWED APR.24.191B.

5 Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

Witwedaes.

, 1 6: all

cap of the gear OFFICE.

PHELPS M. FREER, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LUBRICATIN G SYSTEM FOR ROTARY ENGINES.

Application filed December 14, 1912, Serial No. 736

To all whom it may concern:

e it known that I, PHELPS M. FREER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of ichigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lubricating Systems for Rotary Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

his invention relates to a lubricating system for engines, with more particular reference to the type of rotary cylinder engines.

The engine for which the lubricating system is particularly designed forms the subject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 729,720, filed Nov. 6th, 1912.

However. I would not limit this particular e gine,

system is shown. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the showing in Fig; 1, with the case removed. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the shown in Fig. 1

e1ng of metal preferably cast iron, the

ing

the casing being the crank preferably horizon- 7 Specification of Letters Patent.

provided with a water jacket which may be represented at 5.

Shaft bearings are provided in the side Walls of the stator,

one of these bearings being represented at 6, and the other bein represented at 7. oncentric with both o t ese bearings are flanges 8 and 9, which are of larger diameter, these being for the purpose of forming bearings for the rotor.

he bearings 6 and port a crank shaft which is represented at 10, this crank shaft being supported in the bearings mentioned in the usual manner.

ithin the casing there is a rotatable be generally 11 which is provided with an annular rim 12 which is surfaced to fit the annular surface 4, .of the stator, which has been described, the fit between permit rotation without binding, and at the same time p vent leakage of gas from the cylinders.

ere are any desired 13, which are exactly alike. ese cylinders are preferably formed inte- With the stator. At their outer ends,

flange 14.

As will be seen inner end This hub or crank case is provided with annular bearing flanges 15 and 16, which cooperate With the flanges 8 and 7, respectively, formed upon the stator, as heretoore described.

It will thus be clear that the rotor is supported independently of the crank shaft, so that this relieves the crank shaft bearings of any extra duty or strain, and by so much reduces the friction between the crank shaft bearings and increases the wear and life of the bearings.

Within the cylinders 13 there are pistons 17 which are operatively connected to piston rods 18 which are in turn connected with the crank shaft 10 in the usual manner.

In the type of engine herein shown, the

rotor and the crank shaft turn in opposite directions, the. purpose of which will be clearly understood by reference to my application hereinbefore mentioned.

For the purpose of accomplishing the opposite rotation of the parts mentioned, I provide gearing operatively connecting the crank shaft and the rotor.

These: gears are oused withini a gear casing which is formed in part upon the exterior of the side 2 of the stator. For this purpose, the stator is formed with an extending flange 19, the configuration of which is more clearly seen in Fig. 3, to which is secured a cover 21.

To the rotor there is rigidly 22. This-gear meshes upon thereof with a gear 23, which gear is mounted upon a stub shaft 24, the outer en of the shaft 24 being mounted in the cover 21 ofthe gear casing, w ile the inner end is mounted in an upwardly extending flange 25 which is carried by the side 2 of the stator. The gear 23 is free to turn upon its shaft 24. Carried by the crank shaft 10 is a gear 26 which is rigidly secured to it, and this gear meshes with a gear 27 which is mounted upon the shaft 28, the last mentioned shaft being in the same generally horizontal plane as the shaft 24. These ears 23 and 27 are formed with teeth which extend only partially across their surface. The teeth of thegear 23, as Fig. I, extend a little more than half way across the surface and terminate, thereby leaving a hub portion which maybe indicated at, 29, which provides a path permitting rotation of the gear 26, without meshing with the gear 23 I The gear 27 'is formed in a similar manner, except that whereas as shown in Fig. 1, the left hand portion of the gear 23is formed with a shoulder having no teeth, the gear 28 is similarl formed upon the right hand portion, so t at the gear 23 will not mesh with it. It will thus beseen that the gears 22 and 26 mesh with smaller gears 27 and 23 respectively'without interference.

However, the teeth upon the gears 23 an 27 are sufliciently long so that they engage with each. other. Therefore, rotation of the gear 22 will be transmitted through the gear 23, to the gear 27, and thence to the gear 26.

There is also a toothed member 30 which is mounted upon a stub shaft 31, this toothed member meshing with the gear 27, so that secured a gear the lower side it is rotated. For the purpose of receiving this gear 30, the side 2 extends inwardly, as suggeste at 32, so that the portion of the casing which receives the gear 30, is of just the size to accommodate the gear and no larger.

part, as far as the running of the engine is concerned, except for the fact that it acts.

shaft and will be seen in conical interior configuration.

This toothed member plays no l,aso,ose

as a ump for forcing the lubricating oil, as will be later explained. I

The lubricating feature of the invention which is the real matter of invention disclosed herein, will now briefly be described.

At 32 there is provided a threaded opening, to which may be secured a pipe or conduit, whereby lubricating oil will be introduced either being forced, or the desire pressure secured by gravity from a suitable storage receptacle. This opening 32co'c3perates with an annular groove 33 formed in the outer surface of the shaft and the groove finds outlet through an opening 33 to the interior of the crank shaft 10 which is hollow, as will be clearly seen from the drawing. The ends of the crank shaftbeyond those portions which are required for lubri cationare closed by means of heads 10" and 10". The crank shaft and "those portions which cooperate with the piston rods are provided with openings 34, through which oil may pass and lubricate the cooperating surfaces of the piston rod and crank shaft.

The bearing surface between the crank the bearing flange 9 is lubricated by means of the duct 35. It will be understood that these openings or ducts 33, 34 and 35 referred to are but indicative of any suitable way by which oil may be supplied the hollow crankshaft to the piston rod bearings.

As the oil passes to the surfaces between piston rods, it will the end portions 0 the crank case, as

- the pistons reciprocate, and as the cylinders are rotated.

It will be noted that the walls forming the crankcase are slanted so as to Therefore the tendency of the oil as the rotor turns is to move toward the large end of the era case. The wall of the rotor closing the larger end of the crank case is provided wit a series of openings indicated at 36, through which the oil wil be discharged largely by the centrifugal force acquired by the. oil as the rotor is rotated.

The rotor is formed with a cupped ridge from excess oil aocumulatproduce a I 36 which surrounds the openings 36 and assists in throwing off any oil collecting V thereon. i

For the purpose of collecting the oil thus discharged, t e wall.2 of the stator isnear the upper portions provided with an inwardly curved flange 37 which is provided with a hooked portion 38. This flange 37 extends concentrically around the axis of the stator, but at the lower portion takes a slightly different configuration, due to the withfoppositelyextending flanges or short modification necessary to accommodate the walls upon the opposite sides thereof which gears which have heretofore been referred battle the air as it passes through the casing, to. However, the continuation of the hook and the air which is passing out will, by virportion 38 will be noted as cooperating with tue of this bafiiing, deposit its oil which will the crank case of the rotor. flow to the bottom of the casing 43 and into The oil discharged through the openings the crank casing of the rotor. 36, as heretofore described, will lubricate the Having thus described my invention, what gear 22," which gear will carry the lubricant claim and desire to secure by Letters Fat to the gears 23 and 27, which will in turn out is: produce lubrication between the gear 27 and 1. In an engine, the combination with a the gear 26, the ubricant eventually dropstator and a rotor member, the rotor memping down to the lower portion of the casber carrying thereon a cylinder in which is ing upon the exterior wall 2, and there commounted a piston, a hollow crank shaft jouring into contact with the toothed member naled in the stator, a piston rod connected 30; and it will be elevated adjacent the openwith the piston and journaled upon the ing 39, which is formed in the portion of the crank shaft, openings in the crank shaft side 2 forming the gear casing or receptacle, which communicate with the bearings beand the lifting action of the toothed memtween the piston rod and crank shaft and her 30 will act as a pump to force the lubricrank shaft and stator bearings therefor, an cant which accumulates in the lower portion opening in the stator con'ununicating with of the gear casing. As before explained the the interior of the crank shaft whereby a luportion of the casing which receives the bricant may be supplied, means operatively pump gear 30 is of sufficient size only to acconnecting the crank shaft and the rotor, commodate the said gear. Hence allthe oil t ere being a casing carried by the stator in which reaches the gear is moved by it' and which the said means is inclosed, the said t ere is no accumulation of lubricant in the rotor being provided with a crank casing gear casing. The lubricant thus forced from and provided with openings adjacent the the exit 39 will be pumped in a suitable mangear casing, whereby oil collected within-the ner to the original source of supply. crank casing is discharged into the casing he portion of the wall 2 of the casing as the rotor is rotated, and pumping means of t e stator which is represented at 25, in located in the lower part of the casing for Fig. 1, and as before described, is provided discharging oil from the casing. with an outwardly extending lip forming a 2. 11 an engine, the combination with a complementary portion to the flange J 37 stator and a rotor member, the rotor meInhis flanged portion is provided with an ber carrying thereon a cylinder in which is outwardly extending or bulged portion inmounted a piston, a hollow crank shaft ]ourdicated at 40 in Figs. 1 and 5. At this naled in the stator, a piston rod connected portion the wall 25 is provided with an with the piston and journaled upon the opening which is indicated at 41 in Fig. 3, crank shaft, openings in the crank shaft we so that lubricant collecting in the flange porwhich communicate with the bearings betion carried by the wall 25 may findpassagetween the piston rod and crank shaft and way to the interior of the gear casing, and crank shaft and stator bearingstherefor, an

vents the overflow of lubricant from the t e interior of the crank shaft whereby a lu- 11% flange carried by the wall 25 which would bricantmay'be supplied, gearing operatively discharge upon the outside of the stator and connecting the crank shaft and the rotor,

be Wasted. t ere being a casing carried by the stator m The stator is provided with one or more which the said gearing is inclosed, the sald openings indicated at 42, which openings rotor being provided with a crank casing communicate with the interior ofthe crank and provided with openings adjacent the case. These openings permit air to flow gear casing, whereby oil collected within the in and out'of the casing as the-pistons recipcrank casing is discharged into the gearlng rocate, it being understood that some procasing as the rotor is rotated, and pumping vision of this sort is necessary in order that means located in the lower part of the gear 1% ere be no compression, or, at least, no concasing for discharging oil from the gear siderable compression within the crank case casing.

under normal conditions. 3. In an engine, the combination with a pon the exterior of the stator there is stator of a rotor member carrying a cylinder formed an open ended casing indicated at which 1s provided with a piston, a hollow the lower portion of this casing covercrank shaft journaled in bearings carried ing the openings 42 so that the entrance or by the stator, a pistgn rod connected with exit of the air through the openings 42 must t e piston and journaled upon the crank be by way of the casing 43. shaft, there being openings from the interior he Walls of the casing 43 are provided of the crank shaft to the bearing surfaces the lower portion &

between the crank shaft and the piston rod and the crank shaft bearings, said rotor being provided with a crank casing surrounding the crank shaft openings in one side of said casing, a casing carried by the stator, the openings in the crank casing being adj acent to said casing, and pumping means in of said casing fordischarging the lubricant therefrom.

4. In an engine, the combination with a stator member and a rotor member having a cylinder provided with a piston, a crank shaft journaled in bearings carried by the stator, a piston rod connected with the piston and being mounted upon the crank shaft, openings formed in the said crank shaft adjacent the several bearing surfaces thereon, gears operatively connecting the crank shaft with the rotor, a casing carrie by the stator which incloses the said gears, said rotor being formed with a crank casing which incloses the crank shaft, openings formed in the end of said crank casing which is adj acent the gear casing, a ridged flange formed upon the said rotor and extending annularly around the openings in the rotor before mentioned, an annularly projecting flange carried by the stator. said flange extending adjacent the ridged flange carried by the stator, a gear in the lower portion of the gear casing which acts as a pump to raise the lubricant, and an opening in the said crank case adj acent the last mentioned gear through which the lubricant may be discharged, the said gear pump being operatively geared to certain of the gears carrie within the gear casing.

5. In an engine, the combination with a stator, of a rotor member provided with a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a crank shaft journaled in stator bearings, a piston rod connected with the piston andjournaled upon the crank shaft, said crank shaft being provided with openings adjacent the bearing surfaces thereon, means for supplying the lubricant to the i terior of the crank shaft, a crank casing carried by the rotor and surrounding the crank shaft, openings in the end wall of said crank casing, said openings being adjacent the outer bounding wall of the crank casing, gearsoperatively connecting the rotor with the crank shaft, a casing carried by the stator in which the said gears are incased, the said open'ngs in the crank casing discharging any lubricant collecting in the crank casing into the gear casing, an annular flange carried by the gear casing and extending toward and adjacent the crank casing carried by the rotor, a pocket 'naled in the stator,

1,ase,osa

formed in the lower part of said flange, said pocket having an opening which communicates with the interior of the gear casing, a g'ear'in the lower part of the gear casing, said gear meshing with and being driven by the gearing Within the said casing, an opening in the gear casing adjacent the upper ortion of the said gear whereby the gear will lift and force oil through the said opening. 4 ,6. In an engine, the combination with a stator and a rotor member, the rotor member carrying thereon a cylinder in which is mounted a piston, a hollow crank shaft joura piston rod connected naled in the stator, with the" piston and journaled upon the the crank shaft crank shaft, openings in the bearings be- Which communicate with tween the piston rod and crank shaft and crank shaft and stator bearings therefor, an opening in the stator communicating wit the interior of the crank shaft whereby a lubricant may be supp tiv'ely connecting the crank shaft and the rotor, there being a casing carried tor in which the said said rotor being provided with a crank ing and provided gear casing, whereby oil collected within the crank casing is discharged into the casing as the rotor is rotated.

7. In an engine, the combination with a stator and a rotor member, the rotor member carrying thereon a cylinder in w ic is mounted a piston, a hollow crank shaft joura piston rod connecte with the piston and journaled upon the crank shaft, openings in the crank shaft which communicate with the bearings between the pistonrodand crank and stator bearin s therefor, an openingin the stator communicating with the interior of the crank shaft whereby a lubricant may be supplied, gearing operatively connecting the crank shaft and the rotor, there being a casing carried by the stator in which the said gearing is inclosed, the said rotorbeing rovided with a crank casing and provided djacent the gear casing,

with openings a whereby oil collected within the crank casing is discharged into the gearing casing as the rotor is rotated.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. PHELPS M FREER.

Witnesses:

K. Cam-m, MAURICE D. J or.

with openings ad acent the shaft and crank shaft da s 

